Interior motives: a look inside YDF Interiors

‘There is a certain poetry in a well-crafted space,’ muses Artem Zverev, co-founder of YDF Interiors. The newly opened Knightsbridge studio is less a showroom and more a lesson in refined living – a space where materiality, craftsmanship and curation converge. At YDF, design is not dictated by trends but by a sense of permanence, a reverence for natural textures and a commitment to thoughtful composition.

YDF Interiors offers a full-spectrum service, working closely with architects, designers and developers to create interiors suited to its customers’ specific personal requirements. ‘‘Our mission is to provide seamless, end-to-end solutions,’ says Zverev and fellow co-founder and CEO Julia Danilova. ‘Whether it’s sourcing rare marble from Italy, handcrafting joinery or integrating state-of-the-art technology, every project is approached with the highest level of precision and care.’

Occupying 2,000 square metres, YDF Interiors presents an environment where form and function meet with meticulous precision. ‘We don’t just display materials; we tell their stories,’ explains Zverev. The studio houses a carefully considered library of materials and finishes alongside custom-crafted furniture and architectural elements. Stone, metal and timber are not just used here, they are celebrated – each selected with an eye for its inherent character and provenance.

YDF partners with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Poltrona Frau, Fantini and Buccellati, ensuring that every project benefits from an unparalleled level of craftsmanship. More than a showroom, the space is designed to be experienced. Visitors might find themselves lingering over a tactile display of Italian marble or observing the interplay of light on sculptural metalwork.

‘It’s about engaging the senses,’ says Zverev. ‘We want visitors to not only see the materials but to touch and feel them in a way that fosters a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship.’ A 137-inch C SEED TV, the only one of its kind in the UK, offers an unexpectedly cinematic way to present design concepts, merging the digital and the tactile.

YDF’s in-house bespoke service extends beyond aesthetics and straight to creating interiors that feel deeply personal and intentionally composed. ‘True luxury is when every element of a space feels like it belongs,’ says Zverev. Kitchens, bathrooms and architectural joinery are designed with craftsmanship at the fore. There is a quiet luxury in the details – the hand-polished surface of a bespoke brass fixture, the subtle veining of rare stone, the grain of timber left uninterrupted.

Designed by the internationally acclaimed studio Yodezeen, YDF Interiors has already garnered industry recognition, winning a prestigious SBID International Design Award in 2024. ‘Receiving such a high-level award in our first year is a testament to our commitment to excellence,’ notes Zverev. ‘It reaffirms our belief in creating interiors that are both innovative and enduring.’

At the heart of YDF’s ethos is a belief that design is as much about collaboration as it is about creation. ‘We wanted to build more than just a showroom; we wanted to create a hub for dialogue and discovery,’ says Zverev. This philosophy extends into the YDF Club, an invitation-only network that brings together architects, designers and developers for curated discussions, behind-the-scenes industry access and immersive experiences.

The Club’s events read like a roll call of the design world’s most compelling moments – from a private tour of Edra’s Tuscan factory to an intimate conversation with Nicola Coropulis of Poltrona Frau. The YDF Academy offers further depth, with expert-led sessions ranging from the nuances of contract law to explorations of next-generation design technologies.

With its roots firmly planted in Knightsbridge, YDF Interiors is already looking outward, with plans to establish studios in Dubai and New York. ‘Our vision is to create a global design network that transcends borders,’ says Zverev. ‘Design is about connection, and we want to facilitate that on an international scale.’ The goal is not expansion for expansion’s sake, but the creation of a global network that fosters dialogue between disciplines, regions and creative perspectives.

YDF Interiors, 70 Brompton Road, SW3 1ER

Cara Gibbs is the former style editor at Luxe Interiors + Design and a regular contributor to Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Wallpaper* and Wall Street Journal Magazine